Toronto’s Theatre Scene is Hot

New York has Broadway and London has the West End. Toronto’s equivalent is the Entertainment District — the heart and soul of our thriving theatre scene, which can be found throughout the city.

Over the past few decades, Toronto has gained a reputation for high-quality productions and today it boasts one of the liveliest theatre scenes in the world. Tourists flock to the city to laugh, cry and toe-tap along to the sounds and sights of the big stage.

Musical Theatre from Mirvish Productions

Mirvish Productions is the largest commercial theatre production company in Canada. For more than fifty years, the Mirvish name has been associated with Toronto theatre, ever since retail mogul Ed Mirvish purchased the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1963. Carrying on the family tradition, David Mirvish founded Mirvish Productions in 1987, which today operates four theatres in Toronto (including the Royal Alexandra and the Princess of Wales) and stages many of the city’s major musical theatre productions.

Matilda

Mirvish’s various productions have been lauded by critics and have boasted some major players – often, straight from Broadway. Previous raved-about productions have included Les Misérables, Rent, The Lion King, Hairspray, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Matilda.

Improv Comedy, Repertory, Queer Theatre and More

Located in the impressively modern Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery Historic District, Soulpepper is North America’s only year-round repertory company. Its diverse season is grounded in the classics, while also introducing new works and vital Canadian translations and adaptations.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre. Blending art, dance, music, and drama in innovative ways, Buddies is a theatre company like no other. Expand your horizons with theatre that will both challenge and entertain.

Soulpepper

If you’re in the mood for a laugh, make your way over to The Second City – the world-renowned improv comedy bar that helped launch the careers of Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Mike Myers and numerous other Canadian comics.

Famous People Players is a black light puppetry theatre company which employs people with physical and intellectual disabilities. The “glow in the dark Dine & Dream Dinner Theatre” mounts productions year round.

Produced just for children (and the people who care about them), Young People's Theatre presents high-quality theatre from around the world and develops new Canadian plays in a range of styles.

Launched in 1987 in Toronto, Mysteriously Yours… is the world’s largest professional producer of interactive murder mystery entertainment. All shows are detailed, solvable mysteries based on familiar themes with lots of comedy and audience participation.

Dinner Before the Show

How about a bite to eat before the main event? Toronto is a hotspot for dining whether Old World or trendy new restaurants. Whatever kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for, you can find a world of flavours only steps away from the theatre.